Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36705963›Full record

ArticleJMIR formative research2023

A Mobile Health App (ChillTime) Promoting Emotion Regulation in Dual Disorders: Acceptability and Feasibility Pilot Study.

Antoine Pennou, Tania Lecomte, Stéphane Potvin, Gabrielle Riopel, Camille Vézina, Marie Villeneuve, Amal Abdel-Baki, Yasser Khazaal

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR formative research, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
2.0field-weighted citation impact, top 13% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Antoine PennouDépartement de Psychologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2076-5559
Tania LecomteDépartement de Psychologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0340-3759
Stéphane PotvinDépartement de Psychologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1624-378X
Gabrielle RiopelDépartement de Psychologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0290-0195
Camille VézinaDépartement de Psychologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2123-2949
Marie VilleneuveCentre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0248-1181
Amal Abdel-BakiCentre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3333-9652
Yasser KhazaalCentre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8549-6599
Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Québec · CAUniversité de Montréal · CACentre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundA growing number of studies highlight the importance of emotion regulation in the treatment and recovery of individuals with psychosis and concomitant disorders such as substance use disorder (SUD), for whom access to integrated dual-disorder treatments is particularly difficult. In this context, dedicated smartphone apps may be useful tools to provide immediate support to individuals in need. However, few studies to date have focused on the development and assessment of apps aimed at promoting emotional regulation for people with psychosis.

objectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and potential clinical impact of a dedicated app (ChillTime) for individuals with psychotic disorders and concurrent SUD. The app design process followed recommendations for reducing cognitive effort on a mobile app. A total of 20 coping strategies regrouped in four categories (behavioral, emotional, cognitive, spiritual) were included in the app.

methodsThis open pilot study followed a pre-post design. After the initial assessment, researchers asked participants to use the app as part of their treatment over a 30-day period. Feasibility was determined by the frequency of use of the app and measured using the number of completed strategies. Acceptability was determined by measuring ease of use, ease of learning, satisfaction, and perceived utility at the end of the 30-day study period based on responses to satisfaction questionnaires. Clinical scales measuring emotion regulation, substance use (ie, type of substance, amount taken, and frequency of use), and various psychiatric symptoms were administered at the beginning and end of the 30-day period.

resultsA total of 13 participants were recruited from two first-episode psychosis clinics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. All participants were symptomatically stable, were between 18 and 35 years of age (mostly men; 70% of the sample), and had a schizophrenia spectrum disorder with a comorbid substance use diagnosis. A total of 11 participants completed the study (attrition<20%). Approximately half of the participants used the tool at least 33% of the days (11-21 days). Cognitive and emotion-focused techniques were rated the highest in terms of usefulness and were the most frequently used. The majority of participants gave positive answers about the ease of use and the ease of learning the tool. A nonsignificant association of ChillTime use with negative symptoms and drug use was observed. No other statistically significant changes were observed.

conclusionsThe ChillTime app showed good feasibility (approximately half of the participants used the tool at least 33% of the days) and acceptability among people with schizophrenia spectrum disorder and SUD. Trends suggesting a potential impact on certain clinical outcomes will need to be replicated in larger-sample studies before any conclusion can be drawn.

Indexed as

acceptabilityconcomitant disorderdistressdistress managementdual disorderemotionemotional healthemotion regulationfeasibilitymental disordermental healthmental illnessmHealthmobile appmobile healthpilot studypsychosispsychoticsatisfactionschizophreniasubstance usesubstance use disorder

Identifiers

PMID36705963
PMCPMC9919461
OpenAlexW4318220174

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.